Sportsman&#39;s accessory



SPORTSMANS ACCESSORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1957 INVENTOR5 [/I/AZ if JAM/05x2 64 54w 9. EW/VGLE A TORNEY Nov. 15, 1960 E. be SANDER ETAL 2,959,796

SPORTSMAN S ACCESSORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1957 IlgENTORS A7051. 554

ATTORNEY Nov. 15, 1960 E. DE SANDER ETAL SFORTSMAN'S ACCESSORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 17;

l N V E N TO RS [F054 5 JA M 645V 9.

with inflatable members.

United States Patent SPORTSMANS ACCESSORY Emiel De Sander, 321 W. Sheridan Road, and Glenn D.

The present invention relates to equipment for sportsmen and more particularly to a multipurpose combination of camp seat and portable craft for use in streams,

lakes, rivers and the like and providing comfort with utility for campers, hunters, fishermen and like outdoorsmen.

The prior art has shown various inflatable and deflatable craft for use by sportsmen and the like. The prior art hasalso shown safety devices such as life rafts built Such craft, while well known have never met with extreme success as a piece of all around sporting equipment. The cost of such structures has been relatively high and the versatility of such structures when out of the water has been extremely limited. Such devices have required tedious inflation and deflation making the structures poorly fitted for portability. Their construction has rendered them subject to snagging and punctures during portages and not easily adaptable to transport on the backs of hunters and fishermen, for example, or in vehicles such as automobiles. Many of the structures heretofore known have attempted to provide a boat-like device, and in so designing the device, the crafts 'have ridden extremely high in the water unless dangerously burdened with cargo. While riding high on the With the prior art clearly in mind it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a combination seat and portable craft accommodating only a single sportsman.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a relatively rigid but light frame surrounding an inflated tube, which frame provides means for supporting the device on land in the manner of a comfortable camp stool with utility in the water to accomplish a stabilizing effect to the structure.

It is another object to provide a framed buoyant oneman craft wherein the framing comprises thin walled tubing which provides a structural base for supporting such accessories as might be required by sportsmen While allowing the accessories to be compactly collapsed for overland manual transport or vehicular transport.

Still another object is to provide a one-man sporting craft which is stable in the water and which adjustably accommodates a wide range of sizes of sportsmen, and in which stability is comfortably accomplished by reason of the riding position of the sportsman.

Other objects including simplicity and ruggedness of construction, ease of field repair, and standardization of structural components with attendant production economies will be more readily appreciated by sportsmen and the like as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inventive device, the legs in collapsed position and with the rubber tube inflated in the frame.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the portable craft of the present invention with the legs extended from the "ice frame for use as a camp seat and illustrates one position possible by reason of the unique leg hinge.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the structure shown in Figure 2 where the legs are down to form a camp chair, but illustrates the lower position of the seat made possible by the leg hinge illustrated,

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the structure in the water with the legs down as a leg or foot rest for hunters or fishermen while in the water.

Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the device of the present invention with the shroud in position on the auxiliary ring of the upper frame member to provide a shooting blind for sportsmen.

Figure 6 is a cross section elevation view through the upper frame member and the auxiliaryand illustrating the clip which secures the auxiliary ring to the upper frame member.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the collapsible paddles utilized with the craft.

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the craft completely collapsed and in carrying position on the back of a sportsman for portage.

General description In general the combination sportsmans craft and camp seat comprises an annular tube of rubber or rubber-like material which is inflatable. The annular tube is preferably of heavy truck tire quality. The tube is cradled by a tubular framework which peripherally cradles the inflated tube, which framework gains stability by association with the inflated tube and lends structural strength to the craft for support of various other elements. As will be seen hereinafter the ready obtaining of a standard bouyant ring with simple modification of a standard inner tube component contributes immeasurably to the economy of the device. hinged pair of selectively collapsible leg members are operably connected to the lower portion of the frame so as to provide, in the water a rest position for the sportsmans feet and on land to provide a comfortable and adjustable reclining camp seat. -An adjustable transverse strap across the diameter of the tube and supported by the frame provides a comfortable straddle seat in the water and a body conforming seat bottom when the device is out of the water. The top portion of the tubular frame is adapted to accommodate the mounting of a shroud of sheet material such as canvas, plastic, or the like for selected use by sportsmen as a blind, sun and wind screen or the like. The shroud is supported by generally hemispheric braces allowing the sportsman ample unencumbered movement in the structure. The frame provides convenient holding area for various sporting accessories, and is provided with shoulder straps so that the structure comprises an excellent pack board frame for portage and overland transport.

adjusts the device to his desired seating comfort and wades into the stream, river, or lake. Waders may or may not be used as desired by the individual. For duck hunting where the weather and Water is anticipated to be cold it is obviously desirable to employ wadersand heavy clothing. In somefishing conditions the Waders are also recommended since the lower extremities of the body are likely to be immersed for a considerable period of time. In the summer or on the beach,for example, the structure will be more-comfortable without the need The two position The center of the annulus provides adequate space for gear and 3 for waders. A substantial part of the body portion of the sportsman extends below the water surface so as to give a keel effect to the craft while lowering the center of gravity of the sportsman and craft. The collapsible leg members provide comfortable rail support for the feet of the fisherman or hunter. On'emergence from the water, the device can be fully collapsed for transport leaving the rubber tube inflated in the frame or utilized as a camp seat adjusted to either selected sitting position.

Specific description Referring more specifically to the drawings, and most particularly to Figure 1, the entire craft and chair 11 is comprised of the buoyant tube 12, theframe '13, legs 14 and 15, and brace 16. An auxiliary ring 17 is detachably secured to the frame 13 (Figure and a yoke member 18 is pivotally connected across a diameter of the ring to provide support for the shroud 19. A strap seat 20 is provided across the "diameter of the frame 13 in spanning relationship. e

The buoyant tube 12 is an annular structure of inflatable character having good strength and abrasion resisting qualities. An inner tube of desired size such as employed in truck tires has been found especially serviceable. The buoyant tube 12 is provided with a valve stem 21 for inflation, and the valve stem 21 is located so as to extend outwardly from the annulus formed by the tube 12. This positioning is best illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The purpose of so positioning the valve is to avoid engagement with the sportsman employing the structure as either a water craft or chair as will be more readily appreciated as the description proceeds.

The frame 13 cradles the tube 12. The frame 13 is i made of two rings of substantially equal size, the rings providing an upper frame member 22 and a lower frame member 23. These frame members 22 and 23 are of slightly smaller diameter than the inflated tube 12 and in the assembled structure confine the tube 12 and gain structural strength from their association with the tube 12. Similarly, as will be appreciated, the tube 12 is reinforced as to rigidity by the frame 13. A plurality of arcuate frame struts 24 curve outwardly from the frame members 22 and 23 to provide support for the frame 13. The struts 24, best illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, confine the tube '12 and integrate the entire frame 13. The frame members are all formed from tubular material and by reason of the particular design of thestructure the tubing material may be thin walled and relatively light. For example, thin walled electrical conduit tubing readily amenable to welding and brazing has been found excellent for the frame members.

Hinge lugs 25 having an opening therethrough are integrally attached to the lower frame member 23 and depend therefrom in spaced apart pairs. As will be 'seen, the lugs 25 provide a hinge connection for thelegs 14 and 15 and brace 16 for connection to the frame 13.

The legs 14 and 15 comprise U-shaped'tubular members pivotally secured at their ends to opposite sets of hinge lugs 25. As best seen in Figure 1, one set of the hinge lugs 25 are inset from the spacing of the other pair so that the entire leg structure is collapsible as shown to nest one pair within the other. The closed ends 26 and 27 of the U-shaped leg members 14 and 15 provide ground support when the structure is used as a camp chair and provide leg support to the sportsman for use in the water.

Each of the leg members 14 and 15 are provided with a pair of hinge brackets 28 and 29 through which an opening is provided. Hinge links 30, each having openings in the two ends thereof connect the hinge brackets 28 and 29 to provide, as will be seen, a two position selective setting for the structure when used as a chair or water craft. The hinge links 30 and the brackets 28 and 29 provide a drop hinge intermediate the ends of the legs 14 and 15 which do not interfere with the collapsing of the leg portion of the structure but which do permit selective positioning. Suitable pivotal fasteners 31 retain the links 30 in association with the brackets 28 and 29. The pivotal fasteners 31 may be bolts or rivets and the like. Similar fasteners 32 secure the upper ends of the legs 14 and 15 to the lower frame member 23. In Figures 2 and 3 the selective positioning of the drop hinge is shown so as to change the elevational positioning of the chair in use.

The brace 16 is another tubular U-shaped member pivotal on one set of the depending lugs 25, as best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 to brace the legs against collapse. Thus the brace 16 looks the structure into the position selected for use.

A plurality of cleat members 33 are provided to depend from the upper frame member 22 to provide equipment securing fasteners. In Figure 5, for example, one of the cleats 33' is employed for securing paddles34 from loss. In similar fashion minnow buckets, fish stringers and decoys might be thus secured against loss. The seat member 20 is a relatively wide strip of canvas or like material which extends transversely across the opening provided by the annulus of frame 13 and tube 12. Snap fasteners 20a provide adjustability for the seat and secure the seat 20 over the upper frame member 22.

An auxiliary frame ring 17, best shown in Figures 5, 6 and 8, and comprising a pair of opposite center hinged half sections or hemispheres 35 and 36 is provided to clip over the upper frame member 22. Thus the ring member 17 mates with the upper frame member 22 and is selectively locked thereto. A plurality of clips 37 depend from the inside of the auxiliary ring 17 to snap under the frame member 22 and between frame member 22 and tube 12. A clip 37 is best shown in Figure 6 showing its locking interrelationship between auxiliary ring 17 and frame member 22. The hemispherical members 35 and 36 comprising the auxiliary ring 17 are pivotally connected at their ends. The pivotal connection .38

nection 38 also pivotally retains the yoke 18 sothat the yoke 18 can be elevated to form a ridge member for the canopy or shroud 19 as best shown in Figure 5. The fabric or fabric-like material of canopy 19 is adjustably retained by the ring 17 to provide an opening 39 for shooting or the like.

The paddles 34 might be of any particular design but the paddles 34 as shown in Figure 7 and collapsed in Figure 5 are particularly convenient for use in the particularly described craft. The double ring link 40 locks both ofthe paddle elements together and provides a rigid interrelationship in use.

Shoulder straps 41 secured to the frame 13 provide simple carryingmeans and when the structure is carried as for portage, the space defined by the annulus provides .a suitable storage for necessary gear in the manner of .a pack board. The waist strap 42 provides additional carrying stability. The carrying position of the device is best shown inFigure 8.

While the buoyant tube 12 hasbeen generally described as inflatable it will be appreciated that a more rigid buoyant annulus may be employed, as for example, .a cork or tubular metal element. Similarly, the bouyant tube 12 may be filled with a foamed-implace resin, and such modifications are intended to be includedin the scope of the description and claims.

Operation By reason of the tubular construction of the frame, leg members, and auxiliary ring the complete water craft and chair is extremely light and sufficiently compact to form a convenient portable and convertible structure for sportsmen. In camp the device provides a selectively positioned camp chair. On the steam or lake the device provides an excellent and stable water craft. The device comprises, with its auxiliary canopy and excellent blind and shooting cover for hunters and a serviceable sunshade for beach usage. The canopy may be colorfully decorated or may be suitably camouflaged, as desired. When overland transport is necessary the device serves admirably as a pack board (Figure 8) along with its full availability as a water craft and chair on the trail.

In the water, the leg members of the structure provide foot support as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In use the de vice has unusual stability making it amenable to the attachment of simple sail or motor. The rigidity of the structure makes the attachment of motor or mast and sail a relatively simple adaptation. The stability of the structure is achieved by reason of the relative rigidity of the device and the fact that in the water the immersion of a considerable part of the user provides an excellent keel effect. This is of particular importance in gunning for ducks and the like since other known structures lack stability for shooting. The device rides relatively low in the water since no pretense is made of providing a bottom in the craft. On beaches and around pools, the device is decorative as well as useful and it is extremely comfortable to a wide variety of anatomical types by reason of the adjustability of the seat and the resiliency made possible in the annular buoyant tube. As a shipboard accessory the device provides comfort as well as safety in that it is immediately convertible to water craft usage and serves well as a life ring. Other utilitarian aspects will be readily appreciated by sportsmen seeking such structures.

Having thus described the invention it is appreciated that many modifications within the skill of the art will occur to persons once familiar with the device, and such obvious modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the invention limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

We claim:

1. A sportsmans accessory serving as chair and craft including: an inflatable buoyant annular tube; a thin walled tubular ring comprising an upper frame member; a thin walled tubular ring comprising a lower frame member; a plurality of short arcuate tube members spacedly supporting said ring members in parallel spaced relationship to form a frame peripherally supporting said tube and gaining support from contact with said tube; a straddle seat member supported by said frame and adjustably and transversely across the opening provided by said annular tube; and a pair of tubular hinged legs collapsibly secured to said frame and selectively positionable by a user, a shroud, and a pair of hemispheric bow supports pivotal to and in collapsed register with said upper ring member for selective support of said shroud.

2. In a structure as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said shroud is a tent-like shroud member collapsibly attached to said frame for providing a shelter or canopy over the entire structure.

3. In a structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said shroud-like member comprises a hinged hemispheric ring support and a mating auxiliary ring base overlying and in register with the upper of said frame members spring clips removably securing said auxiliary ring base to said upper frame member and in register therewith; and a selectively closable sheet of water repellent material over said ring support and ring base.

4. A stable craft rendered so by the cooperation of its inherently flimsy and non-rigid cooperating elements, comprising: a pair of spaced apart thin wa'll tubular metal rings; spacers connecting said metal rings and together with said rings defining therebetween a cradle for an annulus; a canvas seat strap secured to the uppermost of said rings and extending transversely across the opening defined by said ring; a tubular and annular inflatable member expandable into and supportably contacting the cradle formed by said tubular rings and said spacers; three U-shaped members in articulated hinged relationship selectively pivotal and dependably extendable from the lowermost of said rings and collapsible flatly against said lowermost ring.

5. In a craft as set forth in claim 4 wherein said articulated hinged relationship comp-rises a cross link pivotal from each of a pair of said U-shaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 166,539 Hutchason Mar. 22, 1952 382,935 Ashworth May 15, 1888 2,674,753 Wood Apr. 13, 1954 2,689,579 Sartori Sept. 21, 1954 2,803,839 Mosley Aug. 27, 1957 2,863,923 Plumer Dec. 9, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,051 Great Britain 1895 33,527 Norway Nov. 7, 1921 

